What Records May Fall in 2008?
by It Takes Eleven
As we enter the offseason, it’s a good time to look at the accomplishments of our returning players to see where they stack up against Crimson Tide history, and to see if any have opportunities to set or near all-time Bama records. All projections are based on these players remaining healthy and keeping their starting jobs. Many Alabama greats have had career ending or altering injuries. It’s not difficult to wonder what the career totals of Namath and Prothro might have been without significant injuries, or where Goode and Constant might have ranked, statistically, among other Alabama greats.
Passing
Coming off the two best years in history for Bama passing yardage and touchdowns, Junior John Parker Wilson is poised to crush many career all-time Alabama records for quarterbacks. With 1,018 offensive plays (852 pass, 166 rush), he trails only Zow (1,020) and Croyle (1,052) for that record. With 37 TD passes, Wilson trails only Croyle (41) for that mark. The total passing yardage record is also well within Wilson’s grasp. He needs 732 yards to eclipse Croyle’s career mark of 6,382 yards. Another year at the helm will also break career records for pass attempts and completions.
The old saying that “three things can happen when you throw the ball, and two of them are bad”, is certainly true. With his large number of pass attempts, Wilson is just outside the top 5 in career interceptions with 22, and he is on pace to break the career interceptions record of 32 shared by Andrew Zow and Scott Hunter. Interestingly (and despite a fan perception of inaccuracy), Wilson’s career 56.1% completion rate places him in seventh all-time.
Kicking
Sophomore Leigh Tiffin set Bama kicking records this year for total field goals with 25 (Philip Doyle had 24 in 1990) and 111 total kicking points (Doyle had 100 in 1989). Combined with solid freshman relief duty of Christensen (8 FG, 12 PAT for 36 points), Tiffin now has cumulative FG and point totals of 33 and 147. Although it’s unlikely for Tiffin to break any career Bama records in 2008, he has established a base to continue his assault on career kicking records for total FG (Doyle, 78 ) and total points (Doyle, 339). With Peter Kim currently fifth on the all-time FG list with 37, and Bill Davis fourth on the all-time points by kicking with 211, it’s apparent that another good year by Tiffin will place him solidly among all-time Bama kickers, most likely trailing just Doyle, Michael Proctor and his father Van Tiffin.
Tiffin’s strong leg also places him in elite company. Before Tiffin’s 50 and 51 yarders this year, Bama history included only 16 FG of 50 yards or more. Only five of these kicks were made without a kicking tee. Look for Tiffin to move past Neal Thomas’ career total of three career 50 yard field goals as he seeks to equal his father’s incredible feat of seven career 50+ yarders.
Rushing
We’ve addressed the potential for offensive record setting performances in passing and kicking. What about rushing? Are there any players who have the potential to set career rushing marks behind a veteran offensive line? Perhaps, but with Coach Saban’s philosophy of using several backs, individual accolades may be sparse. Because of this approach, however, tandem records could be approached. Only ten times in Crimson Tide history have two backs rushed for over 100 yards in the same game. Look for that to occur again in 2008. Who will those two backs be? Coffee, Upchurch and a healthy Grant are all certainly capable, along with several new faces.
Defense
With six interceptions this year, 2007’s leading tackler Rashad Johnson has the potential to end up in the top 10 for career INT. The junior’s 94 tackles this year give him 135 career tackles. With just one year of eligibility remaining, he is unlikely to exceed Tommy Wilcox’ career total of 243 required to break into the top 15 in total tackles.
Freshman standout Rolando McClain tallied 75 tackles this year. Although it is very early to start making predictions that McClain will approach or break the all-time tackle mark of 327 by Wayne Davis, time is on his side.
Team Records
With only the 2008 and 2009 seasons remaining in this decade, a longstanding and unique SEC team record is at risk of falling. Since the formation of the SEC in 1933, Alabama is the only team to win an SEC Championship in each decade (three in the 30’s, one each in the 40’s and 50’s, four in the 60’s, eight in the 70’s, and two each in the 80’s and 90’s).
Defensively, the secondary was opportunistic this year, gathering 19 interceptions (15 by underclassmen). As Coach Saban further implements his pressure defense, the 2008 edition has the capacity to improve and approach the school record of 25 INT held by the 1979 squad.
Finally, the fact that teams now play 12 regular season games, with the potential for 14 in a season, adds to the likelihood that gross records will be broken. At a minimum, game participation records are at risk. Through 2006, ten Alabama players had appeared in 50 or more games, and seven of those ten played during the 2004 or later seasons.
by It Takes Eleven
As we enter the offseason, it’s a good time to look at the accomplishments of our returning players to see where they stack up against Crimson Tide history, and to see if any have opportunities to set or near all-time Bama records. All projections are based on these players remaining healthy and keeping their starting jobs. Many Alabama greats have had career ending or altering injuries. It’s not difficult to wonder what the career totals of Namath and Prothro might have been without significant injuries, or where Goode and Constant might have ranked, statistically, among other Alabama greats.
Passing
Coming off the two best years in history for Bama passing yardage and touchdowns, Junior John Parker Wilson is poised to crush many career all-time Alabama records for quarterbacks. With 1,018 offensive plays (852 pass, 166 rush), he trails only Zow (1,020) and Croyle (1,052) for that record. With 37 TD passes, Wilson trails only Croyle (41) for that mark. The total passing yardage record is also well within Wilson’s grasp. He needs 732 yards to eclipse Croyle’s career mark of 6,382 yards. Another year at the helm will also break career records for pass attempts and completions.
The old saying that “three things can happen when you throw the ball, and two of them are bad”, is certainly true. With his large number of pass attempts, Wilson is just outside the top 5 in career interceptions with 22, and he is on pace to break the career interceptions record of 32 shared by Andrew Zow and Scott Hunter. Interestingly (and despite a fan perception of inaccuracy), Wilson’s career 56.1% completion rate places him in seventh all-time.
Kicking
Sophomore Leigh Tiffin set Bama kicking records this year for total field goals with 25 (Philip Doyle had 24 in 1990) and 111 total kicking points (Doyle had 100 in 1989). Combined with solid freshman relief duty of Christensen (8 FG, 12 PAT for 36 points), Tiffin now has cumulative FG and point totals of 33 and 147. Although it’s unlikely for Tiffin to break any career Bama records in 2008, he has established a base to continue his assault on career kicking records for total FG (Doyle, 78 ) and total points (Doyle, 339). With Peter Kim currently fifth on the all-time FG list with 37, and Bill Davis fourth on the all-time points by kicking with 211, it’s apparent that another good year by Tiffin will place him solidly among all-time Bama kickers, most likely trailing just Doyle, Michael Proctor and his father Van Tiffin.
Tiffin’s strong leg also places him in elite company. Before Tiffin’s 50 and 51 yarders this year, Bama history included only 16 FG of 50 yards or more. Only five of these kicks were made without a kicking tee. Look for Tiffin to move past Neal Thomas’ career total of three career 50 yard field goals as he seeks to equal his father’s incredible feat of seven career 50+ yarders.
Rushing
We’ve addressed the potential for offensive record setting performances in passing and kicking. What about rushing? Are there any players who have the potential to set career rushing marks behind a veteran offensive line? Perhaps, but with Coach Saban’s philosophy of using several backs, individual accolades may be sparse. Because of this approach, however, tandem records could be approached. Only ten times in Crimson Tide history have two backs rushed for over 100 yards in the same game. Look for that to occur again in 2008. Who will those two backs be? Coffee, Upchurch and a healthy Grant are all certainly capable, along with several new faces.
Defense
With six interceptions this year, 2007’s leading tackler Rashad Johnson has the potential to end up in the top 10 for career INT. The junior’s 94 tackles this year give him 135 career tackles. With just one year of eligibility remaining, he is unlikely to exceed Tommy Wilcox’ career total of 243 required to break into the top 15 in total tackles.
Freshman standout Rolando McClain tallied 75 tackles this year. Although it is very early to start making predictions that McClain will approach or break the all-time tackle mark of 327 by Wayne Davis, time is on his side.
Team Records
With only the 2008 and 2009 seasons remaining in this decade, a longstanding and unique SEC team record is at risk of falling. Since the formation of the SEC in 1933, Alabama is the only team to win an SEC Championship in each decade (three in the 30’s, one each in the 40’s and 50’s, four in the 60’s, eight in the 70’s, and two each in the 80’s and 90’s).
Defensively, the secondary was opportunistic this year, gathering 19 interceptions (15 by underclassmen). As Coach Saban further implements his pressure defense, the 2008 edition has the capacity to improve and approach the school record of 25 INT held by the 1979 squad.
Finally, the fact that teams now play 12 regular season games, with the potential for 14 in a season, adds to the likelihood that gross records will be broken. At a minimum, game participation records are at risk. Through 2006, ten Alabama players had appeared in 50 or more games, and seven of those ten played during the 2004 or later seasons.
